SynControl

Initial situation & project description

Previous projects have demonstrated that the identification and quantification of specific syntrophic microorganisms using molecular methods is suitable for the early detection of process biology in biogas plants which use energy crops as feedstock. It is still unclear to what extent these findings can be transferred to plants that are predominantly operated with residual feedstock.

A new biomarker has recently been discovered that directly measures changes in microbiology in the biogas process: the DNA concentration of a specific group of syntrophic bacteria. These bacteria are essential for hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis in biogas fermenters, among other things. In plants that run on energy crops, it's already been shown that this “syntrophic biomarker” works really well as an early indicator of problems with the process biology. This kind of improved monitoring and control of biogas plants makes them more efficient and robust.

The aim of the “SynControl” project is to test the suitability of this syntrophic biomarker for monitoring and controlling biogas plants that are not fed with energy crops, but mainly with residual and waste materials from industry and agriculture. The overall objective of the SynControl project is to systematically validate the new biomarker and thus develop best practice approaches that enable a targeted increase in the use of residual and waste materials, some of which are subject to seasonal fluctuations in availability. Improved monitoring and control of these biogas processes should increase the efficiency of biogas plants, increase the proportion of residues and waste materials in biogas production, and thus contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.